Cruise Wrap: PONANT and Norwegian’s new agent programs, Celebrity wins top wine awards + MORE
We are particularly excited about this week’s Cruise Wrap, not only because it mentions wine, but there are lots of pretty pictures too.
PONANT launches Kimberly Facebook program
PONANT is hosting its third series of online lectures on their Facebook page in this month, focussing on Australia’s Kimberly coastal region.
Stretching over 12,000 kilometres, with more than 2,500 islands, Australia’s Kimberley coast is like nowhere else on earth. One of the world’s last great wilderness areas, and one of Australia’s greatest natural assets, it is a destination that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. From migrating humpbacks, to Ospreys and Frigates, horizontal waterfalls, Devonian barrier reef and soaring sandstone cliffs, PONANT specialists share their knowledge of this special place.
The line invites agents to watch the weekly presentations throughout July on Facebook and learn from each specialist as they share their expertise. This series of virtual lectures is easily accessible every Thursday in July HERE.
Norwegian launches ‘book-a-BDM’ platform for agents
Norwegian Cruise Line’s new ‘Book-a-BDM’ platform allows travel agents to book a personal session with their regional business development manager.
The 30-minute BDM sessions can be used to discuss anything from product to itinerary updates or training, depending on the travel agent’s preference, and can be booked as a phone call or conference call via Zoom at any time. If state restrictions and agency allow, in-store meetings are also available. Travel agents can register for a ‘Book-a-BDM’ session on HERE.
NCL is also hosting its ongoing ‘News & Network’ webinar series for travel partners, with each session presented online by its team of business development managers. Future sessions will continue to focus on specific regions and itineraries from the line’s newly unveiled sailings for 2021-2022. Agents can view the latest Europe 2021-2022 on-demand webinar HERE.
The brand has further launched a dedicated Australia and New Zealand Partners First Facebook group, where agents can keep across NCL’s latest updates.
Adventure Canada taps into the Northern European market
In 2021, Adventure Canada will offer five expedition voyages in northern Europe, including a new Basque Country expedition cruise showcasing the wild scenery and unique, age-old traditions of the Basque culture centred around the Bay of Biscay.
In June and July, 2021, Adventure Canada’s European sojourns will feature the maiden Basque Country cruise, a voyage around the Scottish Isles, a journey from Scotland to Iceland, a circumnavigation of Iceland and an expedition from Iceland to Greenland.
Adventure Canada is offering a 15 per cent earlybird saving on Adventure Canada’s five European expeditions in 2021 while Australian partner, Cruise Traveller, is exclusively offering a free, one-night stay before each of the cruises. The offers are valid for bookings made by October 31, 2020.
SeaLink gets new chair and independent non-exec director + snags Brisbane ferry contract
SeaLink made some changes to its board of directors following the retirement of current chair Andrew McEvoy from 30 June 2020.
In light of the rapidly changing and uncertain business environment in 2020 due to COVID-19, the board has appointed Jeffrey Ellison to act as chair. Ellison has worked at SeaLink in various roles since 1997 including as Managing Director from 2008 up until his retirement in January 2020.
SeaLink also appointed Lance Hockridge as an independent non- executive director of the company. Hockridge has extensive international experience in the transportation, manufacturing and logistics sectors with a focus on safety, operational and financial transformation of businesses.
Meanwhile, Sealink’s subsidiary company, River City Ferries has been contracted as the new operator of Brisbane City Council’s iconic CityCat, CityHopper and Cross River Ferry networks following a competitive tender, securing SeaLink’s first marine public transport contract since acquiring Australia’s largest privately-owned metropolitan bus company, Transit Systems in January 2020.
SeaLink’s services are planned to commence on 4 November 2020 for a term of up to 15 years and will secure up to 250 local jobs, as well as the operation of 31 vessels and add millions of passengers to the 360 million passengers that the group already moves globally each year.
Crystal Serenity’s 2023 voyages open for booking
The latest deployment from Crystal features an exploration of the Black Sea, Dalmatian Coast, South Pacific, Africa, New England and Canada, Caribbean and more
In 2023, the ship will sail individual voyages of seven to 23 nights, as well as a full World Cruise offered with 140-, 128- and 119-night options, and combination sailings of up to 100 nights without repeating ports.
Hurtigruten’s big rebound
Following the departure of the MS Finnmarken from Bergen last week – marking the world’s first ocean cruise ship to resume sailing – Hurtigruten now has four ships offering guests the Original Coastal Voyage on the Norwegian coast, with MS Midnatsol, MS Richard and MS Trollfjord all offering sailings from this week.
Hurtigruten coastal sailings are currently open to the Norwegian and Danish domestic market and, following an engaging local campaign encouraging Norwegians to take “a big adventure” with Hurtigruten, locals have jumped at the chance to experience the wonders of their own coastline this summer season.
Viking releases 2022 river/ocean combination cruises
Viking has released two brand-new 2022 departure dates for its popular river/ocean combination cruise, the 15-day Rhine and Viking Shores & Fjords between Bergen and Basel or vice versa.
Clients can choose to commence with the river portion or the ocean portion; both new departures sail on 23 September 2022 and are priced from $9,990 per person twin share in Standard Stateroom/Veranda Stateroom, including savings of up to $2,500 per couple plus an additional saving of up to $800 per couple for new-to-Viking guests as part of Viking’s Journeys Worth Planning promotion.
The 15-day combination cruise fuses Viking’s eight-day Rhine Getaway river cruise between Basel and Amsterdam with the eight-day Viking Shores & Fjords ocean itinerary between Amsterdam and Bergen. With calls in Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland, the voyage delivers a seamless European exploration for those who enjoy the best of both worlds.
Plus, guests can book their future travels with confidence with Viking’s Risk-Free Guarantee, knowing they have the freedom to change or postpone their cruise up to 24 hours before departure.
Celebrity Cruises scores top wine awards
Celebrity Cruises has taken out 12 Wine Spectator 2020 Awards of Excellence.
Awarded to only the finest restaurant wine programs around the world, the recent accolades include two of the most prestigious ‘Best of Awards of Excellence’, for Cyprus on Apex and Normandie on Edge.
Since Wine Spectator began including cruise line restaurants in their annual awards in 2013, Celebrity Cruises has exceeded any other cruise line by taking home 77 awards, including three “Best of Awards of Excellence”, the only three ever awarded in the cruise industry.
Australian wine-lovers will soon have the chance to experience the award-winning wine list of Grand Epernay Restaurant (Award of Excellence since 2013) on the upcoming Celebrity Solstice Australia sailings.
Oceanwide participates in Cleanup for Sarah
In memory of Sarah Auffret, AECO’s environmental agent who tragically passed away March last year, Oceanwide Expeditions took part in an AECO-organized waste removal effort known as Cleanup for Sarah on June 16, her birthday.
Auffret led AECO’s initiatives for Clean Seas, a UNEP campaign that seeks to drastically reduce single-use plastics on Arctic expedition cruise vessels while also enhancing passenger participation in Arctic beach cleanups.
Traditionally, Oceanwide’s beach cleanups in the Arctic have taken the form of yearly waste removal events along the coasts of Spitsbergen, which are supervised by the governor of Svalbard in cooperation with AECO.
Due to the current travel restrictions, however, staff have done their own cleanups in small groups near the main office or individually in other areas around the world.
Dream Cruises extends ‘Cruise As You Wish’ policy
As ongoing global uncertainties continue to affect travel plans for many, Dream Cruises is extending their ‘Cruise As You Wish’ assurance policy with the aim to assist guests in their decisions to cruise and most importantly to provide peace of mind in view of the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
This policy extension allows all new and existing bookings made for Genting Dream’s sailings prior to or on 9 April 2021 to have the flexibility to cancel up to 48 hours prior to sailing and receive 100 per cent future cruise credit to be redeemed on any Dream Cruises or Star Cruises sailing embarking on or before 30 September 2021.
Cruise Traveller: Cruise pause a chance for small ship market to revamp
Boutique and expedition cruise operators have an opportunity to redefine themselves as they rebound to become the first cruise sector to restart operations after Covid-19, according to Cruise Traveller, which represents more than 50 boutique, luxury and expedition cruising operators around the world.
The managing director of the Gold-Coast-based cruise wholesaler, Craig Bowen, said the expedition cruise sector had grown rapidly in recent years with a record number of small ships being launched and commissioned to meet surging demand and each showcasing eco-sustainable innovation the sector had become renowned for.
Bowen said small ship expedition companies were more aligned with the adventure travel industry than the mass cruise ship sector and that the challenging events of the past few months had highlighted the many benefits of small ship cruising and the lower risk profile of smaller vessels.
“Cruise Traveller’s bookings for 2021 product to the end of May, 2020, are 32 per cent up on the same period last year for 2020 sailings,” Bowen said.
“While most of our guests are keen to travel overseas again in the future, the number of small ship voyages around and close to Australia will soon rise markedly and this will help satisfy pent-up demand.”
Mr Bowen said that while larger cruise ships had dominated the close-to-home market for many years, Covid-19 had prompted many of Cruise Traveller’s small ship partners to debut new and creative itineraries around the Australian coastline which were already selling strongly.
Royal Caribbean extends suspension
Royal Caribbean Group has extended the suspension of most sailings through to 15 September 2020, excluding sailings from China, suspended through the end of July, and sailings to Bermuda, suspended through 31 October 2020.
Wärtsilä and Pastrovich Studio team up for sustainable hybrid boutique cruise vessel
Technology group Wärtsilä has signed a partnership agreement with architect and yacht designer Stefano Pastrovich on the design of innovative sustainable superyachts for the boutique cruise sector.
The design will feature a fully-integrated combination of hybrid propulsion and solar panels for minimal environmental impact and high energy efficiency, allowing it access to harbours that would otherwise be closed to large motor yachts.
The concept is built around a 60-metre long catamaran with accommodation for up to 36 passengers.
Wärtsilä has extensive hybrid propulsion and energy recovery experience which will be leveraged in the new design, and has already worked with Pastrovich in other successful projects. These include the 99m X-Vintage in 2011 and the 101m X-Expedition in 2017, an innovative design that bridges the worlds of Cruising and Superyachts.
Featured image credit: ©PONANT/Nicolas Matheus
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
Adventure Canada celebrity cruises cruise traveller Crystal Dream Cruises hurtigruten Norwegian Oceanwide Pastrovich Studio ponant royal caribbean sealink vikingLatest News
Voyages celebrates 40 years at Uluru with two new immersive experiences
No plans for celebrating your 40th this year? Here's a hot tip from us.
SkyDeck: The inflight entertainment you could never have imagined
Forget those external cameras you can live stream while in the air... With SkyDeck you can check it out for yourself.
Second Boeing whistleblower dies of ‘mystery infection’
Joshua Dean died from a fast-growing mystery infection on Tuesday.
Aussie winners of American Airlines ‘Sell Your Way to the USA’ announced
Show me the money! For the winners, Sell Your Way to the USA was worth getting involved in.
ANZCRO celebrates 30th with special edition of iconic New Zealand Book
Choice bro! ANZCRO celebrates its 30th with a special edition of its iconic New Zealand Book. Chur!
Room to move at Cairns Harbourside Hotel with ‘spacious’ new family package
Moody teens can eat two-minute noodles while younger brothers and sisters get to eat free with mum and dad. Win, win!
A&K unveils lavish around the world wildlife adventure in private jet
The kind of holiday that if you need to ask the cost, you probably can't afford it.
Flight Centre and Reforest hit one million trees target early
Nice one Flight Centre, we think you've earned an early Friday knockoff.
New cruise options spearhead stacked APT 2025 program
Just in case you thought you were running out of cruise itineraries, APT's here with a fresh batch.
Travel Weekly announces a new team to helm Australia’s No.1 travel trade title
Some shameless self-promotion from us, but we thought you needed to know who's bringing you the news.
IHG reveals plans for Brisbane’s first Kimpton in 2028
Just another reason to book that trip to Brisvegas. But don't jump the gun, it's not open until 2028.
Cruiseabout’s first store in five years opens in Perth
Perth gets a break from being behind the rest of the country with the addition of the first Cruiseabout store.
ATAS complaints process acknowledges non-economic loss
A High Court case win over 'disappointment and distress' on a cruise gone wrong prompts ATIA complaints change.
Cunard previews new Queen Anne
Yep, this one does exactly what it says on the tin.
Bunnik Tours unveils latest expansion to Iceland
Just as the Icelandic vikings did many years ago, Bunnik is expanding into new territories.
Australia’s first glamping retreat turns 25
25th anniversary gifts usually come in silver. Ours comes in the way of a news story.
Embrace the journey: Traversing the world with the Shokz OpenRun
If you’ve been on the wrong side of a final call in the airport, or missed the stop on rail journey, it might be time to invest in a pair of Shokz OpenRun headphones. Originally marketed as headphones for fitness fanatics, runners or cyclists with a keen to steer clear of a prang with a car, […]
Tourism Western Australia MD Carolyn Turnbull departs
Turnbull hints her new role will see her staying in the tourism and hospitality industry and who can blame her?
DriveAway launches Brit-Euro Blitz campaign
If agents can put the foot down quick enough and get involved, there are some great prizes to be won.
Fly and Stay Free with the Great Southern
Unlike those dodgy scam phone calls you're getting more and more of, there's no strings attached to this deal.
Sober travel and TikTok guide Australian Gen Z trips
Can you call it a sober holiday if you enjoy a few glasses of red on the flight? We think yes.
Travel DAZE Exec Agenda REVEALED: top execs to speak on airline competition
As the industry reels from Bonza's implosion, it is more important than ever to ask the big questions.
TTC: Deals are driving up demand for September trips
The latest market research from TTC Tour Brands shows interest in international leisure travel remains high for 2024, with 77 per cent of Australians over 18 still planning trips this year. Notably, 28 per cent of those travellers are eyeing September for their journeys. Europe continues to be the most popular destination, with 68 per […]
Skroo says Rex will need deep pockets to fill lost Bonza slots
The door is open for Rex, and anyone else who wants to launch a regional Aussie airline...
Sno’n’Ski Holidays unveils 2025 mega famil to Colorado!
Let the games begin - this is certainly not a famil that you will want to miss!
Walk Japan launches Kyoto: Mountains to the sea walking tour
There are two types of people, one who enjoys walking on holiday and another who enjoys sipping Mojitos by the pool.
Which destination had a 48% boost in bookings following 10 MILLION TikTok views?
Here's a clue: it's not Malabar Beach.
Asher Telford appointed General Manager of SeaLink Whitsundays
Telford has plenty of reasons to smile after SeaLink doubles down and makes him GM after buying his tourism operation.
Qantas ‘working urgently’ to fix app data leak
Qantas is looking into customer reports that passengers have this morning been able to access other passengers’ personal information on the airlines app. X user Lachlan posted that he was able log into different accounts every time he opened the app. My @Qantas app logs me in to a different person each time I open […]
Hilton Expands Presence in North Queensland with the signing of Hilton Garden Inn Townsville
Heading to a North Queensland Cowboys clash? Hilton Garden Inn Townsville is set to open, but not until 2026.
Rail Europe ANZ: making dream journeys come true
Rail Europe's running a lottery! You're not going to win millions, but you might just snag a free holiday.
UPDATE: Bonza hole deepens as administrators investigate financial affairs
Administrators dig deeper as struggling airline unlikely to be revived.
Revamped Wailoaloa Beach hotel opens as Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa
Crowne Plaza Fiji Nadi Bay Resort & Spa is open and ready for bookings after the first phase of a multi-million-dollar transformation. Part of IHG Hotels & Resorts’ premium collection, the transformation has seen the completion of 106 guestrooms showcasing contemporary interiors reflective of the premium Crowne Plaza brand and is a first for the […]
Nielsen Data reveals brands spending big to attract Aussie tourists
Trip A Deal, Virgin and Ignite Travel walk into a bar, blow their cash on travel advertising instead of the pokies.
Kamalaya Koh Samui clinches clutch of wellness awards
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa has so far clinched five prestigious awards in 2024, including being inducted into the ‘Hall of Fame’ at the World Spa & Wellness Awards in London. Founders of the Koh Samui sanctuary and spa John and Karina Stewart expressed their heartfelt gratitude for the awards. “We are profoundly honoured […]
Jetstar offers 200,000 return for free flights to celebrate 20th anniversary
Jetstar hits 20 and everyone else gets the presents with free return flights to domestic and international destinations.